As you prepare for a move, you undoubtedly have plenty of packing to complete. Of all the things you need to pack, clothes may seem fairly simple, but it’s a big task that can often require a bit more detail and thought than you expect. Of course, you want to keep your clothes in the best condition possible as you travel to your new home. To accomplish this, you will need to create a game plan to properly pack your wardrobe up. Luckily, we have six simple tips to turn this task into an easy one without much stress or frustration! Interested in figuring out the best ways to pack your clothes for your next move? Keep reading to find out how.
First and foremost, starting with a wardrobe declutter will make your packing process infinitely easier. We all have clothes that we don’t wear anymore (or perhaps never worn at all). Sometimes these items are shoved to the back of our closets or dressers, long since forgotten and out of your usual rotation. This major clean-out allows you the time and space to dig to the depths of your wardrobe and purge some of the items that aren’t worth the energy of packing and bringing them along to your new home.
Begin by creating four piles: donate, sell, trash, and keep. Your clothes will fall into one of those categories. Alternatively, you may choose not to go into the trouble of selling any of your unwanted pieces, which is a fine option. In that case, you would just stick with the three remaining categories. But if you are looking for one easy and effective way to sell, conduct a yard sale. As for donating, you can easily bring your clothes to a local secondhand shop. No matter how you choose to declutter, it’s important to remember to be honest about what you actually will wear in the near future. Try to let go of anything that you really won’t want to wear any time soon. This process will give you a great foundation for packing, as you will have eliminated articles of clothing that no longer serve a purpose in your wardrobe.
As you commence your packing, your first order of business will be to pack the off-season items. These articles of clothing are ones that will not be needed for the next few months. By beginning with these, you can get a head start on your packing without worrying that you might need these items in the time between when you pack and when you unpack. If you will be keeping these boxes in storage for an extended period of time, be sure to take the proper protective measures so your clothing isn’t harmed by moisture.
There are two effective ways to pack your items – folding and rolling. Folding is one great way to store your clothes flat and with minimal wrinkling. Especially for items that wrinkle easily such as linen clothes or cotton button-downs, you should opt for a folding technique. The main objective here is to keep everything neat, tidy, and flat. The flatter you get your clothing, the better, as this will allow you to pack more compactly.
Rolling is another effective technique, which can result in wrinkles but can also allow you to fit more clothes in each box. When you roll, you’ll want to make sure the article of clothing is smooth before folding it in half, tucking in the sleeves if applicable, and rolling. This is often called the military role.
When you pack, it’s crucial to have the right materials in order to gather your clothing in a neat and organized fashion. The supplies you’ll require will depend on the types of clothes you’re looking to pack.
Cardboard boxes are the usual standard for items when moving. Using sturdy, high-quality cardboard boxes are a great option when you have clothes that are rolled or folded.
Wardrobe boxes are made specifically for hanging clothes. These are tall cardboard boxes that have a rod across the top to put hangers on that will allow items to be stored without folding or wrinkling them, which is perfect for suits or delicate dresses. This enables you to just take the clothes out of your closet when you pack, and then place them right back in the closet at your new place when you arrive.
For more valuable hanging clothing items, garment bags are a necessary item. They zip up around your articles of clothing to offer extra protection. This added safety will give you confidence that your expensive items, such as wedding dresses, will not get damaged while in transit.
Suitcases are perfect for packing your clothes in because 1) you likely already have them in your house and 2) they can be rolled, meaning they are still convenient to use even if your clothes are heavy. They can also be helpful for transporting your shoes during a move.
Another option to consider is to pack your clothing items exactly as they are. This can be boiled down to two different strategies, depending on where your garments are stored. For clothing items in a dresser, if you can feasibly lift the dresser with all the clothes still in the drawers, consider doing so. That way, once you arrive at your new home, all you need to do is bring your dresser in, and the clothes will already be inside, unpacked, and as you’re used to.
The other alternative is for clothes hanging in the closet. All you need to do is take some large drawstring trash bags and put the clothes inside while they’re still hanging. You can then tighten the drawstring around the tops of the hangers. Once the bags with the clothes inside are removed from the closet, we also recommend fastening the top of the bags with rubber bands for extra security to hold the hangers together.
Finally, you’ll want to have some clothes available to you for the first few days in your new home. It’s important to have a bag or a designated box with a few changes of clean clothes for the first few days, as well as pajamas and undergarments. This will be very convenient for you as you get settled into the new location.
With these simple packing steps, you can pack your clothes with expertise. If you’re looking for a residential moving company to help you move your items once you’ve packed them, rely on E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co.! As reliable local movers in Columbus, Ohio, E.E. Ward has been committed to providing professional moving services to its customers since 1881. Find out how we can transform your move today!
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